Thinking of getting a bike

[Whiteboy™]

Well, i'm 18 never been on a manual atv or motorcycle, so any advice for a school or something so i can start off smart? i don't know **** about bikes but i am wanting to start with a ninja 250, any advice here also? thanks guys!

[aaronfelipe]

ALL '08 Ninja 250's are sold out until November, unless you get lucky with a batch. I would recommend a Buell Blast. They are 500cc. Took a training course on it and loved the torque feeling. It is very light and designed for handling. I read it's got %75 more torque than the 250 and it gets around the same gas mileage if not better. M.S.R.P is $4,500. Af far as a course, I would call every single resource you can right now because as far as I know, all of the safety courses, which apply for a discount on most insurance, are booked into Novemeber of this year.

[Whiteboy™]

that sucks, i fell in love with the new ninja 250r :(

[aaronfelipe]

You could try and find one, but chances are that you will be overpaying for it. I read a rumor about the MSRP going to $500 for the 09'. Might be wrong though. Check the Kawasaki forums and maybe you will find a slightly used one. Goodluck with your hunt, if that's what you choose to get.

[Whiteboy™]

i found a new one at a store but i don't wanna learn on my own bike, LOL

[aaronfelipe]

Here is something to start you, or another interested member into looking at a couple pre-owned 250's:

http://www.kawiforums.com/showthread.php?t=114903
http://www.kawiforums.com/showthread.php?t=114831
http://www.kawiforums.com/showthread.php?t=114745

This could be your best bet:

http://www.kawiforums.com/showthread.php?p=1277794#post1277794

[aaronfelipe]

i found a new one at a store but i don't wanna learn on my own bike, LOL

I would say jump on it if it's what you want for sure and then have it parked until you take a safety course.

[Chuckster]

ebay.com has 7 ex250's within 50 miles of 30101 which is Acwroth.

[EJ25RUN]

i'll be honest, my idea of a first bike is something cheap your not scared to throw down cause it wont hurt in the pocket book to bruise old crap fairings. After you get the basics down and your not a wannabe stunter (im serious), then get a nicer bike i.e. the Ninja 250.

Oh... i stress this ALLOT but again, GEAR, GEAR, GEAR!

[ls_integra]

i would say jump on a 600 on it or a 750 i am 20 and got a 600 for my first bike wish i would have got a 750 i still have the 600 and love it to death

[Smittie61984]

LS integra. That's some pretty dumb advice. Especially the 750 part. Which if you are bored with the power of a 600 you need to try taking a turn which is where the real fun begins. Hell nothing beats the feeling of passing some joker on a new GSXR1000 with 18" chicken strips in the mountains on my 78rwhp 1996 CBR600 F3.

My very first bike was a 1994 Yamaha XJ600 (SecaII) that I got in great shape for $1500. It was a 600cc air cooled inline 4. Which is nowhere near as powerful as an inline 4 Race Replica. But I couldn't think of a better bike to start on. It didn't have to scream in the RPMs to cruise the interstate. It had decent midrange to let you scoot when you needed too. It sounded cool as hell (Despite it wasn't going anywhere fast).

Here is some video of me racing a 03 stock 350z. As you can see nothing super fast but a great learner bike. You could cruise at 70mph at a comfortable RPM and I have gotten it to a Spedo 135mph (Which was probably a true 120mph). Now this video was from my squid days.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1VCVN4UZ30
It was nimble and very comfortable.

Now if you can get a used Ninja250 for $1000 or so. You could ride that for a few months to get some experience in (And make sure you really do want a motorcycle) and save up some cash. Once you get the basics down you could move up to a SV650 and ride that for the rest of your life and never get bored.

[topsecret2JZ]

my first bike was a 250 it was great i loved it but the problem was that a month after i was riding it i wanted to upgrade to something bigger, my friend has a buell and i rode it the other day and honestly the only problem with his bike was that i felt like i was riding a dirt bike because of the handlebars so my question is would you eventually be wanting to ride a cruiser or a crotch rocket, if so make a choice from there, the buell is like a cruiser and the 250 is like a crotch rocket

[topsecret2JZ]

yeah dont try and get a 600 for your frist bike unless you have some experience under your belt i rode dirtbikes and four wheelers for like four years before i got my frist bike and still didnt wanna start on a 600 but like i said you will want to move up but nothing beats the price of the gas for a smaller bike

[94_cd5]

ill sell ya my gsxr750 :)

[ranger250x]

also look into getting a dual sport. their tough as nails and pretty easy to learn on. you can also go where cars and sportbike cant---the dirt

[2000Quad]

...or the sidewalk, over curbs, or offroad around cars waiting to turn...wait...did i say that

[lilaznthug60]

i just learned how to ride.. my first bike is an 04 yamaha r6... love the bike.. i would suggest taking a class.. i heard it helps alot.. i am considering a class for myself also

[Tarzanman]

i just learned how to ride.. my first bike is an 04 yamaha r6... love the bike.. i would suggest taking a class.. i heard it helps alot.. i am considering a class for myself also

Class helps a little. Starting on an appropriate bike helps a lot more, though.

[Tech5]

:goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob:
Class helps a little. Starting on an appropriate bike helps a lot more, though.

[EJ25RUN]

one other thing that deserves mention is how misconstrued the frame of mind is of non bike people in this country is. I see it in this thread with the get a 600/750 :blah:

Look at what is one of the most popular bikes in europe is. 125cc and a 4 stroke. You can start on it at 15 and by 18 your are finally ready for something bigger. Non of that in the usa though. We get *was gonna put a NWS picture of a guy cut in half from bike wreck but thinks better of it*

Yamaha R 125 For the Knee Draggers. :goodjob:

http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq16/EJ25RUN/yamaha125.jpg?t=1222217765

[Elbow]

Lightweight low powered sportbikes > faster straight line bikes, nothing like tossing around a light bike and knee dragging. Good stuff! I wish we had 2 strokes.

[EJ25RUN]

Lightweight low powered sportbikes > faster straight line bikes, nothing like tossing around a light bike and knee dragging. Good stuff! I wish we had 2 strokes.

Never again. :(

Don't forget what will happen in Grand Prix racing in 2011.

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/images/250gp_600cc_2011.jpg